Cuba

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 21, 2015

Top diplomats from United States and Cuba meet at State Dept as embassies that have been closed since diplomatic relations were severed in 1961 reopen in Havana and Washington, DC; hundreds of Cubans seeking visas form lines outside US embassy; questions remain about thawing of relations between countries, including lifting of trade and travel bans and improvements to Cuba's human rights record. MORE

Jul. 21, 2015

Editorial welcomes formal restoration of diplomatic relations between United States and Cuba; calls for end to US trade embargo; cautions that full normalization of relations will take years and pose numerous challenges, and that Cubans must debate among themselves competing visions for nation's future; warns of possibility that current government will tighten state controls in wake of historic change. MORE

Jul. 20, 2015

Resumption of diplomatic ties with Cuba opens way for American individuals and companies to seek compensation regarding claims against Cuban government for property seized in revolution there; such assets are valued at between $6 billion and $8 billion. MORE

Jul. 14, 2015

New York-based Cuban artist Tania Bruguera, who was arrested in Havana last December before staging provocative performance, achieves sudden run of success; Museum of Modern Art buys one of her video works, New York City chooses her to be first artist-in-residence for Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs and Cuban law-enforcement officials return her passport, which had been confiscated during December incident. MORE

Jul. 14, 2015

Dr Fabian Pina Amargos, marine biologist and director of Cuba's Center for Coastal Ecosystem Research, is among researchers hoping recent warming of relations between Cuba and United States will spur more scientific collaboration and exchange between two countries, whose ecosystems are closely interconnected; among treasures of Cuba is Jardines de la Reina, vibrant coral reef that is part of protected marine reserve and is seen by many marine scientists as bright spot in face of worldwide oceanic decline. MORE

Jul. 12, 2015

Many Spanish citizens who fled Cuba during Communist revolution are seeking compensation or restitution for seized assets now that there is new era of openness; are hoping that United States will be able to help press their expropriation claims, which have been stalled because Cuba already paid Spain $40 million compensation as part of 1986 agreement. MORE

Jul. 8, 2015

Op-Ed article by Sen Marco Rubio contends Pres Obama is mistaken in his belief that opening diplomatic ties with Cuba will bring about freedom and democracy there; calls engagement with reprehensible leaders of Communist regimes Faustian bargain contrary to America's goals and values; asserts United States should instead demand reforms from Cuba before deepening ties and stand against its corrupt leaders and with its people. MORE

Jul. 8, 2015

Carnival Cruise Lines will offer trips from Miami to Cuba starting in May 2016, pending approval of Cuba's government. MORE

Jul. 6, 2015

Senator Marco Rubio has embraced fact that many Cubans are looking askance at his candidacy for president of the United States, due to way he is characterized in country's state-run press; Rubio has long argued against normalized relations with Cuba, which has led to him being portrayed as part of 'Cuban-American terrorist mafia.' MORE

Jul. 3, 2015

Many Cubans worry about effects that closer ties with United States, bringing a potential flood of tourists, will have on country's pristine coral reefs, mangrove forests, national parks and organic farms; Cuban government says it does not plan to sacrifice environmental concerns for economic development. MORE

Jul. 2, 2015

President Obama's announcement to formally re-establish full diplomatic relations with Cuba by July 20 ignites storm among Republicans who see act as appeasement of dictatorial regime and 2016 presidential election campaign issue. MORE

Jul. 2, 2015

Cubans greet news America will re-establish full diplomatic ties with Cuba by cautiously celebrating, pondering if influx of American tourists and end of trade sanctions will revitalize economy and lead dictatorial government down democratic path. MORE

Jul. 1, 2015

Jul. 1, 2015

United States and Cuba agree to reopen embassies in Washington DC and Havana, formally ending more than 50 years of diplomatic freeze; agreement is watershed moment in Pres Obama's effort to thaw relations with Cuba. MORE

Jun. 28, 2015

Memoir from Republican presidential hopeful Sen Ted Cruz, A Time For Truth, provides new details about insurgent activities of the senator's father; a 1950s Cuban revolutionary, Rafael Cruz had long-held desires to fight alongside Fidel Castro, but is now a pastor who frequently quotes scripture in anti-government speeches to grass-roots groups. MORE

Jun. 27, 2015

Science fiction books by Cuban writers, like Jose Miguel Sanchez novel A Planet for Rent, are being published in United states as relationship between countries thaws; science fiction works have sometimes presented allegories of life under Cuban regime and often had to fight for visibility under government that dictated realism in literature. MORE

Jun. 23, 2015

Op-Ed article by former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez calls on American business community and Republicans to embrace Pres Obama's new approach to Cuba; points to elements of negotiations that have made him optimist about normalization process; underscores promise that American support for Cuban-born entrepreneurs and Cuban-run small businesses could have for changing the country. MORE

Jun. 21, 2015

Opening of diplomatic relations between United States and Cuba has led to rapid increase in tourism to island but commerce is still restricted by myriad arcane rules and persistence of decades-old trade embargo. MORE

Jun. 21, 2015

Editorial calls for end ban on Americans traveling to Cuba; supports Senate bill that would end ban; urges Congress to reconcile Senate and House foreign aid bills in way that will enable private entrepreneurs to invest in Cuba and reduce sanctions on country. MORE

Jun. 21, 2015

Mariane Pearl travel article on trip back to visit family in Havana, Cuba, as end of decades-long political isolation begins to bring both tourists and those with birthright to the island once again. MORE

Jun. 19, 2015

Cuba is poised to increase Internet access, introducing some three dozen Wi-Fi hot spots around island and reducing steep fees; move comes as part of normalizing diplomatic relations with United States. MORE

Jun. 12, 2015

Cuba's outsourcing sector is open for American business in response to thawed diplomatic relations between country's, giving a boost to Cuban entrepreneurship. MORE

Jun. 5, 2015

House Republicans vote 247-176 to keep restrictions on Americans trying to travel to Cuba; provision in transportation funding bill is setback to attempts by Obama administration to relax relations. MORE

Jun. 3, 2015

New York Cosmos soccer club defeats Cuban national team, 4-1, in exhibition match; Cosmos are first professional American sports team to visit Cuba since announcement of efforts to normalize relations between countries. MORE

May. 30, 2015

Sec of State John Kerry removes Cuba from list of state sponsors of terrorism, following end of 45-day congressional notification period; move is crucial to Obama administration's effort to normalize relations with Cuba, but comes at time when negotiations between two countries have failed to reach accord on re-establishing diplomatic relations. MORE

May. 23, 2015

Negotiators for Cuba and the United States fail to reach agreement on re-establishing diplomatic ties; officials from both countries decline to describe what obstacles remain. MORE

May. 22, 2015

United States fourth round of talks with Cuba to negotiate deal restoring diplomatic ties and full-fledged embassies fails to reach agreement but countries agree to continue negotiating. MORE

May. 21, 2015

Cubanacan: A Revolution of Forms, opera about Fidel Castro and Che Guevara playing golf shortly after Cuban revolution, will premiere during Havana Biennial; is written and produced by American filmmaker Charles Koppelman with music by distinguished Cuban composer Roberto Valera. MORE

May. 18, 2015

Minnesota Orchestra, famous for its Nordic repertoire, chronicles adventure of being first major American symphony orchestra to perform in Cuba after more than 15 years; tour included enthusiastically received performance at Teatro Nacional located in Plaza de la Revolucion. MORE

May. 17, 2015

Minnesota Orchestra performs at Teatro Nacional in Havana, in Cuba's first concert by a large United States orchestra in more than 15 years; orchestra receives several standing ovations during sold-out event. MORE

May. 17, 2015

More Americans are traveling to Cuba since restoration of diplomatic relations between countries and many travel companies are offering services there; tourism is still officially banned under US embargo and visitors must qualify for licensed travel in one of 12 categories. MORE

May. 15, 2015

Minnesota Orchestra is first major orchestra from United States to visit Havana since Pres Obama begin normalizing relations with Cuba; ensemble resumed playing in 2014 after 16-month lockout, and is now viewed as cultural vanguard. MORE

May. 13, 2015

Cuba's Pres Raul Castro says country is ready to exchange ambassadors with United States once it is formally removed from US government's list of states sponsoring terrorism. MORE

May. 11, 2015

Cuban Pres Raul Castro, during visit to Vatican, praises Pope Francis' role in encouraging renewed relations between United States and Cuba; says is been inspired to return to Roman Catholic Church. MORE

May. 7, 2015

Tips for business travelers who wish to explore opportunities that may develop from diplomacy thaw between United States and Cuba highlighted. MORE

May. 6, 2015

Treasury Dept issues licenses to American companies Havana Ferry Partners and Baja Ferries to carry Cuban and American passengers between Miami and Havana, for first time in 50 years. MORE

May. 5, 2015

Cuban national wrestling team will face United States in exhibition match; competition will take place in May in Time Square, New York City. MORE

May. 3, 2015

Alan P Gross, American aid worker freed after spending five years in Cuban jail for attempting to smuggle communications equipment there, emerges as leading voice on restored American-Cuban relations; Gross is helping new political action committee raise money for candidates promoting freer trade and travel to island and is considering return visit to country. MORE

May. 3, 2015

Tampa, Fla, is making strong effort to capitalize on Pres Obama's renewal of diplomatic relations with Cuba, positioning itself to reap both economic and cultural benefits of exchange; effort builds on over six generations of ties between Tampa and Cuba and runs counter to anti-engagement stance long held by government officials in Miami and Florida. MORE

Apr. 24, 2015

Congressional Republicans will not challenge Pres Obama on removing Cuba from terrorist list. MORE

Apr. 23, 2015

Vatican announces that Pope Francis will visit Cuba later in 2015, before his arrival in United States. MORE

Apr. 22, 2015

Visit to Cuba by New York Gov Andrew Cuomo and contingent of businesspeople from state yields trade deals for Manhattan software company Infor and Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. MORE

Apr. 21, 2015

New York Gov Andrew M Cuomo arrives in Cuba for 26-hour trade mission; remains optimistic about doing business with country despite being confronted with severe poverty and poorly developed infrastructure. MORE

Apr. 20, 2015

Gov Andrew M Cuomo will lead delegation of New York State business owners and politicians to Cuba, hoping to capitalize on easing of diplomatic relations; trip is intended to lay groundwork for future business ventures as United States moves to end trade embargo and normalize trade relations. MORE

Apr. 16, 2015

Complicated list of sanctions remains barrier to American business interests in Cuba, despite Pres Obama's decision to remove nation from America's list of states that sponsor terrorism; Congressional approval is necessary to fully lift complex structure of laws and regulations framing Cuban embargo. MORE

Apr. 16, 2015

Fashion world is buzzing about restoration of diplomatic relations between United States and Cuba, which has long held great influence over designer imagination. MORE

Apr. 15, 2015

Pres Obama plans to take Cuba off government's list of countries that sponsor terrorism, removing major hurdle to restoration of diplomatic relations after decades of hostilities. MORE